'Gall bladder' pain 5 years after gall bladder removal...?

Question

I had my gall bladder removed in December of 2002 and I still have the pain of having a glaa bladder attack.

The pain comes and goes. Sometimes I can go weeks without having any pain but sometimes it seems to come and go more frequently. For instance, today I've had 4 episodes since 4 a.m. until now (2 p.m.).

Has anybody experienced this and why does it still happen?

My doctor is aware of the problrm but doesn't seem to think it is a big deal. She thinks it may be that the ducts and tubes that the bladder was attached to still think they need to spam.

Is there a way I can 'let my body know' that it doesn't need to do this anymore?

Answer 1

Dr's tend not to always listen as good as they should.
It's much easier for them to dismiss things ESPECIALLY when they aren't the ones in pain........

There are many other issues that can cause severe "gallbladder attack like" pain.... Stomach issues, and even something called a Hyatal Hernia..... Where part of the upper intestine slips over the diaphram and causes SEVERE pain in that same area. I am no anatomy specialist - but considering you already had something removed in that same area and possibly are the average woman who does the daily household routine, perhaps works and also raising kids/ picking them up - it is VERY likely you have something else going on.

What I often do to make sure my Dr is "All ears" when I walk in the room is to (Type) up my own little symptom/ complaint list that I want addressed. I provide a copy to the Dr/Nurse to be placed in my OFFICIAL record - to me, this sparks a little additional concern from the Dr. Especially when it is officially documented and (nowadays) malpractice insurance can be quite expensive.

I would be SURE to DIRECTLY (type - or write) your pain levels, concerns, frequency of the pain - and if the Dr seems to keep dismissing this, I would even go as far as to state in the document that you are concerned for your health and safety at this point - you should NOT be suffering like this - and are requesting a DETAILED written explanation from your Dr for your OWN medical records........ I GARANTEE your Dr will get on the ball and order an ultra sound among other tests to get your problems resolved..........

FYI - Being a caregiver to an ill parent (cancer for the last 6 years) I have learned SOOOOOOO many things about how sh--tty the medical system and insurance system works......... I also learned from my Mom's home nurse (on the down-low) that ANY TIME you EVER make an official record or complaint to a hospital or medical establishment, they label your record with an orange sticker that is known in the industry as a "Warning - this patient will sue you if you F----k up anything....." Because of this, I was sure to place my concerns in writing as my Mother's Medical POA for her cancer care and wouldn't you know - there seems to be twice as many doctor's hovering over her every time she is at the Dr now....... Who Knew...........

Just remember - you are the patient (paying person) and you are paying for a service. Don't let ANYONE short change you.......
I would have it checked out just for safety sake.

My Mother had been complainning about her (colon problems) for two years and was dismissed by her Dr (even after her BP was Off the charts)....... Ya know what he told her??? Go get your anual pap smear - it's probably a woman problem..............
Her Gyno is the one who discovered her tumors......
Her Gyno listened to her and because of this, my Mom is still alive and kicking................

Not to insinuate that you have cancer - as I am 100% certain that is NOT the case, but I feel it is my obligation to (if anything) emphasize to the world - the impotance of "being heard".......

I have personally been sickened at my Mother's treatment and I don't know what would happen to her if she didn't have a very sharp 26 year old daughter (who can be a real B---tch) on her side to defend every move the Dr's make for her.............
One incodent, I was with my Mom and noticed something "not right" with her IV in the hospital. They had accidentally overdosed her on a blood thinner. Had I not seen that, she would have died within 45 minutes and perhaps NO one would have ever been upfront about what happened.

You are NEVER to old to ask someone in the family to help you advocate for your own well being.

Best of luck.

Meg -

Answer 2

I have heard from a fellow nurse that some people get nerve damage around the area where the gall bladder was removed..and they have pain there...ask your doc...sometimes it can be scar tissue or sometime like nerve damage.

Answer 3

you will definately need some follow up by a physician on this matter.
just because the gallbladder was removed, doesn't mean the process which created the stones was removed. there is a duct which connected the pancreas and gallbladder that can still house stones.

Answer 4

I have that exact same problem but I found out that it could be due to acid reflux. You might want to talk to your doctor about this. Once I started eating healthier and exercising the problem pretty much went away (except when I screw up lol) Hope this helps.

Answer 5

tell ur doc to have an xray

Answer 6

I would get a second opnion. You should not be having pain like that. Please see another m.d. asap.